Also, did you notice QMII's protection officer walking beside her, when she visited the Faroe Islands? He looked like a senior, and somewhat overweight, CID man (detective) to me. A far cry from the professionals from PET today.

I saw that guy, but it didn't occur to me that he was a protection officer! He certainly didn't look very fierce.

What was most striking to me was how different the young Margrethe seemed in some ways. Henrik has said that one of the things that so attracted him was that she seemed almost insecure, not self-confident, and not very sure of herself when they met. I don't see any of that in Margrethe now, but it shows itself a couple times in the video - she seems almost nervous at times during the interview. Not throughout, but some of the time. She also seems very "fresh" and natural. I think Margrethe still comes across as very natural and open, probably more so than the other monarchs, but there's very much something of the venerable old queen and wise matriarch to her now. I was struck by how very young she seemed in her 30s. Interesting to see, because this younger Margrethe is the one who came to the throne in 1972 and the one who Henri met and fell in love with in London in the 60s.

While QMII went to London, PH went to the Opera in Malmö, Sweden.
But he also found time to follow the wedding on TV and he said to our reporter: "I didn't think you saw the Queen on the screen that often and that was a bit dissapointing. I missed that, but it's lovely the Queen is back home again". http://www.billedbladet.dk/Kongelige...et%20mere.aspx

He has also been appointed "European of the Year", by the Europe Movement, which works for more integration and more brotherhood in Europe. PH was singled out for his ability to bridge btween Danish and not least French culture. His ability to absorb/encompass several cultures makes him an obvious choise.
Previous recipients have been: Anders Fogh rasmussen, Jose Manuel Barroso and Angela Merkel.
The movement is very pro-EU.

Saturday afternoon QMII opened the outdoor exhibition "Denmark loveliest - 100 preservations" on behalf of Danish Nature Preservation Society. The weather was great so QMII took her time looking at the exhibition, enjoying a glass of wine and and a bite and chatting with people. And she was in very good mood as she was heard laughing a number of times.

But he also found time to follow the wedding on TV and he said to our reporter: "I didn't think you saw the Queen on the screen that often and that was a bit dissapointing. I missed that, but it's lovely the Queen is back home again".

Agreed. Glad to know Henrik wasn't impressed with the miniscule coverage of other royals, either!

Summary of article in Billed Bladet #18, 2011.
Varme følelser på slotstrappen - Warm feelings on the stairs of the palace.
Written by Annelise Weimann.

Last week the Regent Couple moved to Fredensborg to stay there for the summer and as has been tradition for many years the locals greeted the royals with a torch procession.
QMII and Prince Henrik stood on this balmy spring evening on the stairs, hand in hand and watched the parade move up towards the palace.
As usual the local scouts and Home Guard company had been mobilized along with local citizens (and their dogs, nice weather to walk vuffer = doggy) all in all several hundreds.
And as always QMII said a few words: "I'm delighted that the weather is so beautiful and that it doesn't even rain! As you know the Prince Consort and I always look forward to move out to Fredensborg after a long winter. We are not just warm from the torches but also from our hearts".

Interesting...
The yacht-captain is wearing the complete full dress uniform, while Prince Henrik is weaing an incomplete full dress uniform. I.e. without his sabre.
One is tempted to think the girth isn't long enough to go around Prince Henrik's....eeh pondus anymore.

I see from the pic, that PH wore the regulation sabre, when they went ashore in Helsingør. - I almost added that there are plenty of cables onboard a ship, which can be used as a substitute for a belt, but I didn't.

I see from the pic, that PH wore the regulation sabre, when they went ashore in Helsingør. - I almost added that there are plenty of cables onboard a ship, which can be used as a substitute for a belt, but I didn't.

Muhler, surely the Prince Consort's middle speaks to the quality of Danish food and French wine, so that he is a walking advertisement for both that ought to be celebrated, not ridiculed. I wonder whether Prince Henrik has spoken out or written about his obvious love of food and wine. Does anyone know whether he has written a cookbook, for example?

Muhler, surely the Prince Consort's middle speaks to the quality of Danish food and French wine, so that he is a walking advertisement for both that ought to be celebrated, not ridiculed. I wonder whether Prince Henrik has spoken out or written about his obvious love of food and wine. Does anyone know whether he has written a cookbook, for example?

Ridiculed? Surely you are jesting?

PH has written a number of cookbooks and is eager to experiment and invent new recipies.

- PH is an example of why men always, always will be superiour to women when it comes to cooking.
(Yes, I'm provoking. Will someone take the bait)?

Summary of various articles in Billed Bladet #19, 2011. (More will be added).

Prinsen og syngepigen - The Prince and the Singing-Girl.

PH had a funny time at Bakken with Kirsten Piil's Guild. Here they were entertained by the Singing-Girls and as is proper Prince Henrik showed his appreciation by stiking money down their cleavage.

- Bakken used to be an amusement park near Copenhagen for the working class and the entertainment around 1900 was accordingly.
That included the Singing-Girls, who were considered "women of the town" and they sang in a tent, where decent women did not go in!
Dressed in outlandish costumes and in front of a rowdy crowd of more or less drunk men, they sang songs which to put it mildly can best be described as lewd.
Should a man get out of hand, the girls were more than capable of setting him straight with a few well chosen words, which would leave even the most hardened sailor cherry red in the face.

Nowadays the women singing there are professionals and even though some of their songs are full on innuendoes, they are mostly nostalgic.
They still dress somewhat trashy, that's part of the show.

PH has written a number of cookbooks and is eager to experiment and invent new recipies.

- PH is an example of why men always, always will be superiour to women when it comes to cooking.
(Yes, I'm provoking. Will someone take the bait)?

Absolutely I will take the bait as I love to eat, especially when someone else cooks. Of course men are superior cooks as well as connoisseurs of food. The wise woman is silent and makes sure she is available to eat what is produced. Washing up is of course the usual issue, but that is why God invented the dishwasher.

Absolutely I will take the bait as I love to eat, especially when someone else cooks. Of course men are superior cooks as well as connoisseurs of food. The wise woman is silent and makes sure she is available to eat what is produced. Washing up is of course the usual issue, but that is why God invented the dishwasher.

Alas there few wise women around.
For women cooking is a chore and instead of complaining about their husbands never doing any cooking, they should approach the situation differently.
Are you paying attention ladies?

Give you husband a set of high quality knives, for Christmas/birthday.
Men do not use untensils, men are tool users. The knives needs to be tested and if you send him on a cooking course, only for men, he's hooked. Before you know it, you will be banished from the kitchen.
Men don't just cook, we break down the prey and prepare it after the "hunt", something women will never understand.
Men don't use recipies, we create our own, we improvise, to us cooking is an expedition into the unknown.
And soon we will develope secret ingrediences.

Once your husband is hooked on cooking, he'll need, want more tools. A man can't just use any pot or any pan, no, no. You'll soon learn to realise why one simply cannot use any cutting board and why a cutting board of oak is a necessity.
Proper tools are not only crucial it's also something we can discuss at length with the other guys. The equivalent of kicking tires.
Apart from that a man will in contrast to a woman, naturally sample the wine/beer/brandy before adding it to the sauce.
I could go on, but that is basically why women will never ever be the equal of men, when it comes to cooking.

Cleaning a kitchen is not something a man should have to do. We are simply not genetically disposed to doing such things.
We leave that to you women, you are better suited anyway, with your nesting instinct.

I'm sure Prince Henrik is like I've described above and that's why QMII, being a very wise woman indeed, never go anywhere near a kitchen.

Thank you for your insightful guide to the male kitchen! I share your view that Prince Henrik is a devilishly good cook (I wish I could find your treasure trove of smileys!) as his girth indicates a love of good food that has only grown over the years of tasting! Queen Margarete is indeed very wise to stay out of the kitchen, as well as being lucky in her genetics, I think. Her trim size indicates a dedication to staying fit (I remember reading how helpful the many long corridors in her various palaces are with a view to exercise!). I also recall however when visiting Amalienborg the very small size of Queen Ingrid's dresses that were on display. Unfortunately Prince Henrik's genetics are less friendly so he puts on a brave front in carrying his weight throughout his various incarnations. C'est la vie, n'est-ce pas?

Thank you for your insightful guide to the male kitchen! I share your view that Prince Henrik is a devilishly good cook (I wish I could find your treasure trove of smileys!) as his girth indicates a love of good food that has only grown over the years of tasting! Queen Margarete is indeed very wise to stay out of the kitchen, as well as being lucky in her genetics, I think. Her trim size indicates a dedication to staying fit (I remember reading how helpful the many long corridors in her various palaces are with a view to exercise!). I also recall however when visiting Amalienborg the very small size of Queen Ingrid's dresses that were on display. Unfortunately Prince Henrik's genetics are less friendly so he puts on a brave front in carrying his weight throughout his various incarnations. C'est la vie, n'est-ce pas?

I think the problem with Prince Henrik is that he was born about 500 years too late.
Back then portly gentlemen were an ideal. A sign of power and wealth.
Had style magazines for men been around back then, he would have been a centerfold several times.
I think Prince Henrik has realised that he is doomed to lose any battle with his weight, so he has resigned. And why fight it when you can flaunt it?
When you get at a certain age, you might just as well enjoy life, eh? No fun in being slim and looking like this.

(As for smileys: You'll find them if you click: [More])

Summary of article in Billed Bladet #19, 2011.
Henrik i Hopla - Henrik in high spirits.
Written by Helle Skram de Friis.

Henrik was on the job last weekend, sort of. It was probably more a cosy outing with a wee glass of wine or three, especially as the weather was great.
There have for many years been a small boat at Esrum Lake which you can rent and go for a spin around the lake. That boat has now been renovated and is ready for use. The inauguration was just the right job for PH.
Esrum lake is located next to Fredensborg, so Henrik swapped with the driver and drove his favourite Buick himself. I see that the adjutant and a PET officer was sitting on the backseat.
Safely arrived at the Skipper House, from where the boat sails, PH quickly cut a ribbon: "I'm delighted to declare the boat fare open".
After a short trip with the admittedly goodlooking boat it was down to business. All gentlemen present treated themselves to a bite and a bit of wine and a chat about important things as elderly gentlemen are in habit of doing.
PH handed out boxes of his own wine to three men who had been in charge of restoring the boat.
Prince Henrik, wine glass in hand, chatted to our reporter: "I don't sail in that so often, but it's really good that it has been restored".
About the wine he said: "Yes, that's my own wine. A bottle of rosé and a bottle of redwine for each. I myself am very fond of a glass of cool rosé, when it's hot".

- Hardly the most interesting event I know, but nevertheless a very good example of Prince Henrik having de facto semi-retired.

Now here is the thing with Prince Henrik that you have quite correctly pointed out. It is often forgotten that wine too is a food and that it contains lots of sugar that can do great damage to ones waistline and to one's health if consumed in large amounts. Presumably the Prince's doctors have warned him about Type 2 diabetes! Thanks for the 'more' tip. This board has suddenly become more fun!

A new frigate was named by the Prime Minister the other day. And he said: "Her Majesty the Queen has resolved that the ship shall be named Peter Willemoes".

The PM used the correct but now archaic expression "resolved". Majesties do not decide like mere mortals, they "resolve".

QMII is the commander in chief of the armed forces and when a new navy ship is named, it is formally she who approves of both the name and the ship's coat of arms. - I remember hearing in a documentary some time back, that QMII doesn't just rubber stamp any such suggestions put in front of her, at least not in regards to the coat of arms.

As is tradition, all the major combat ships in the Danish navy are named after naval heroes.
Peter Willemoes commanded a floating battery during the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801, distinguishing himself. Even being singled out by Nelson himself.
Willemoes was later killed in action.